The Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced, on Monday, that it has made clear to the UAE its position of refusing to recognize Israel until a permanent and concrete settlement of the Palestinian issue is reached.
This came in a statement by the Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, during a press conference in the northeastern city of Multan.
Qureshi said, "I categorically explained to the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Pakistan's position on Israel, and that we have not and will not be able to establish a relationship with Israel until a concrete and lasting solution is reached to the Palestinian issue."
The Pakistani minister's comments came just one day after his visit to the Emirates, which many considered crucial, amid rumors that Islamabad had secretly sent an envoy to Tel Aviv.
Islamabad has already denied these reports, most of which came from the Israeli media.
In response to questions regarding reports of alleged pressure from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf states to recognize Israel, Qureshi said he made clear to his Emirati counterpart the depth of emotions and feelings Pakistanis have about Palestine and Kashmir.
"The UAE foreign minister fully understands our feelings about the two issues," he added.
But Qureshi did not say whether he received a request from his Emirati counterpart to recognize Israel.
Qureshi also rejected allegations of pressure on Islamabad to recognize Israel, saying, "First, there will be no pressure on us and there is no. Second, we have to take decisions that take Pakistan's interests into consideration and not because of any pressure. We have a policy and we are still sticking to it."
It is noteworthy that last September, Israel signed an agreement to normalize relations with the UAE and later with Bahrain, and Khartoum announced the following month its agreement to normalize relations with Tel Aviv, and Morocco announced this December a similar step.